Mia Wasikowska endures corset pain for ‘Jane Eyre’

Mia Wasikowska dons 19th century garb as the title character in Cary Fukunaga’s version of “Jane Eyre.”

“Jane Eyre” has withstood the test of time. In fact, she is probably one of Charlotte Bronte’s most admired literary heroines of all time.

From the 1944 Robert Stevenson iteration starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine to many Masterpiece Theater-esque versions, it has probably had its fair share of remakes that, for the most part, are accepted — and Oakland native Cary Fukunaga‘s version is another to add to that roster.

Another thing that has stayed timeless with the “When Jane met Rochester (played by the dreamy Michael Fassbender)” story is the period costumes — specifically the corsets. We had the opportunity to talk to the star of the film, Mia Wasikowska and Fukunaga about the costumes and what the actors had to go through to achieve an accurate portrayal of the Jane Eyre world. They also had a lot of insight about being an “up and comer” in Hollywood. Follow the jump to read what they had to say.

When creating a period piece, how detailed and accurate do you hope to be with the scenery, language, costume, set design and everything else?

Fukunaga: As accurate as possible — especially with the language. Accurate to the point where it is still comprehensible by modern audiences. In terms of all the details — as real as possible. The costume designer, Michael O’Connor, sourced real materials like textiles and used original lace, collars, suspenders — down to the details on the boots. Everything was highly detailed.

Photo credit: Laurie Sparham (Focus Features)

Mia, how was it like wearing the costumes?

Wasikowska: Painful. Awful. (laughs) Everyone says corsets are hell and I understand that. But until you’re really in there, it’s a whole other thing. They’re really helpful for the character because you get a sense of repression and restriction. You can’t really bend down and your arm could only go up so high because there’s a little flap over it. That was really helpful for understanding how it was like being a woman in that time.

Fukunaga: (Mia) was certain that I asked O’Connor to make it tighter (laughs) — corsets basically take your guts and squeezes them in half — some of the guts go up, some of them go down. It’s really unhealthy.

Wasikowska: And it restricts your breathing! You can only take half breaths and it’s really weird.

Fukunaga: Fassbender had to wear pants up to here (points to his chest).

Wasikowska:He complained all the time!

Fukunaga: His shirts were long and his pants were high!

Mia, you have been seen as an “up and coming” actress. When do you think an actress or actor stops being an “up and comer?”

Wasikowska: I don’t really know…

Fukunaga: I think it’s when your publicist stops trying.

Wasikowska: Yeah! It’s when everybody gives up trying.

Fukunaga: I think you are “up and coming” until you oversaturate.

Wasikowska: Until you’ve done a magazine cover twice — the SAME magazine cover — then you have probably stopped being an “up and comer.”